Tiffany Haney
Air fryers are a great way to cook food with less oil and fat than traditional frying methods. They can be used to cook a wide variety of dishes, from speedy baked potatoes to spiced, juicy chicken and even desserts like apple and blackberry crumble. Whether you're looking for a quick weeknight dinner or a more elaborate meal, an air fryer can help you achieve crispy, golden perfection with less prep and cook time. With an air fryer, you can make everything from tofu batons to steak, salmon fillets, and even crispy chilli beef.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Meat | Chicken, steak, sausages, meatballs, chicken nuggets, chicken Kievs, pork, beef, lamb, bacon, tofu |
| Fish | Salmon, fish fingers |
| Vegetables | Sweet potatoes, Potatoes, Sprouts, aubergine, avocado, squash, cauliflower, tofu |
| Fruit | Apple |
| Dairy | Halloumi, feta, mozzarella, cheese |
| Pulses and legumes | Borlotti beans, cannellini beans, edamame beans |
| Grains | Quinoa, rice, noodles |
| Other | Eggs, chocolate |
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What You'll Learn
- Chicken dishes, including nuggets, Kievs, parmigiana, and whole roast chicken
- Fish, including salmon fillets, fish fingers, and crispy salmon skin
- Vegetarian options, like cauliflower wings, tofu batons, and halloumi
- Sweet treats, such as apple and blackberry crumble, and mini eclairs
- Chips, including wedges, sweet potato fries, and banana chips
Chicken dishes, including nuggets, Kievs, parmigiana, and whole roast chicken
Chicken dishes are a great option when cooking with an air fryer, with the ability to make everything from nuggets to a whole roast chicken.
Chicken nuggets are a tasty snack or side dish, perfect with ketchup. They are a healthier alternative when cooked in an air fryer, as they require less oil than traditional baking methods.
Chicken Kievs are another classic dish that can be made in an air fryer. The key to this recipe is to prepare the garlic butter in advance and freeze it in a log shape. Cut a pocket into each chicken breast and stuff with the garlic butter before securing with toothpicks or butcher's twine. Season some flour with salt and pepper, then coat the chicken in this before placing in the preheated air fryer.
Chicken parmigiana is a family favourite, traditionally served with spaghetti but also delicious with a crisp green salad. To make this, heat your air fryer and blend a sauce made from garlic, onion, carrot, cherry tomatoes, olive oil, basil, and seasoning. Flatten some chicken breasts and coat them in an egg mixture, followed by Parmesan breadcrumbs. Place the chicken in the air fryer and cook until done.
Finally, you can cook a whole roast chicken in an air fryer, which is a great way to keep the meat juicy. Ensure your air fryer is large enough to fit a whole chicken, and create your own spice mix or use a pre-made one. Rub the chicken with the spiced oil, then place it in the air fryer.
There are plenty of options for cooking chicken in an air fryer, allowing for tasty, healthier alternatives to traditional cooking methods.
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Fish, including salmon fillets, fish fingers, and crispy salmon skin
Salmon fillets, fish fingers, and crispy salmon skin are all possible with an air fryer.
Salmon Fillets
Salmon fillets are a great option for a quick, healthy, and tasty meal. The air fryer's high-powered convection cooking can crisp the outsides without drying out the fish. It is best to use salmon fillets of comparable thickness to ensure they cook evenly and at the same time.
To prepare the salmon, rub each fillet with olive oil or avocado oil and season with garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. You can also use any seasoning or marinade you like. Place the salmon in the air fryer, skin-side down, and cook at 400°F (200°C) for 6 to 11 minutes, depending on the thickness of the fillets. The salmon is done when it flakes off easily with a fork.
Fish Fingers
Fish fingers can be made in an air fryer by cutting salmon or other fish into finger-shaped pieces and coating them in a breadcrumb and garlic paprika mixture. Cook in the air fryer for a healthy, crispy snack or side dish.
Crispy Salmon Skin
To achieve crispy salmon skin in the air fryer, cook the salmon fillets with the skin on, then remove the skin once the desired internal temperature is reached. Place the skin back in the air fryer to crisp it up. This method ensures the salmon is not overcooked and the skin becomes crispy like bacon.
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Vegetarian options, like cauliflower wings, tofu batons, and halloumi
Vegetarian Options
Cauliflower Wings
Air fryer cauliflower wings are a tasty vegetarian option that can be served as a fun dinner or a game-day appetizer. To make them, chop the cauliflower into wing-shaped pieces, dip them in a batter, and shake off any excess. Place the wings in the air fryer and cook for around 7–8 minutes, until crispy. Once cooked, toss the wings in a bowl of your favourite sauce—like buffalo, BBQ, honey BBQ, or a mild Asian chilli sauce—until they're well coated.
Tofu Batons
For a vegan bacon alternative, try making tofu batons in your air fryer. First, cut tofu into slices or strips and marinate them in a mixture of soy sauce, maple syrup, smoked paprika, garlic powder, and liquid smoke. After marinating for at least 15 minutes or up to 3 days, preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C). Lightly grease the air fryer basket, add the tofu in a single layer, and spray the tops with oil. Air fry for about 6 minutes until golden brown and crispy.
Halloumi
Air-fried halloumi is another tasty vegetarian option that's quick and easy to make. Simply slice the halloumi into equal pieces, dry them with a paper towel, and brush all sides with olive oil. Preheat your air fryer to 360°F (180°C) and place the halloumi slices in the basket, ensuring they don't touch. Cook for 7–9 minutes until golden brown, and serve immediately. Enjoy with sliced cherry tomatoes, fresh herbs, or a drizzle of balsamic glaze.
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Sweet treats, such as apple and blackberry crumble, and mini eclairs
If you have a sweet tooth, you can use your air fryer to make some delicious treats, such as apple and blackberry crumble, or mini chocolate eclairs.
First, the crumble. This classic dessert is a winter winner, and using an air fryer means you can cook it more efficiently with minimal mess. It also helps create an extra-crisp crumble crust. To make the crumble, use your fingertips to gently rub all the ingredients together in a medium bowl until evenly combined. You'll be left with mostly small chunks and a few larger ones. Put the mixture in the fridge. Then, put apple chunks and blackberries in the base of the air fryer basket (without the rack) and top with the crumble mixture.
Now, for the eclairs. You can either make these from scratch or buy frozen ones from supermarkets such as Aldi, Asda, Iceland, or M&S. If you're making them from scratch, you'll need butter, water, flour, and eggs. You'll also need a medium-sized pot, a stand mixer, and some baking paper. Add water, butter, and salt to the pot and set to medium heat. Allow the butter to melt, and then lower the heat to the lowest setting. Add in the flour and mix vigorously for 2-3 minutes, or until the dough pulls away from the sides. Mix for another 40 seconds, and then remove from the heat. Place the mixture into your stand mixer with a creaming tool on a low speed to remove the heat from the mixture. Once the bowl and mixture have cooled to the touch, add in the eggs, one by one, scraping down the sides of the bowl after each addition. Carefully place the baking paper with the eclair batter into your air fryer and bake at 180C for 15 minutes. The eclairs should be golden brown, and the inside should be slightly moist and sticky. If they're too wet, return them to the air fryer for an additional 3 minutes at 160C. Cut the eclairs vertically to allow them to cool faster. If you're using frozen eclairs, simply load them into the air fryer to defrost and warm through. Just make sure you use a low temperature to avoid melting the chocolate icing.
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Chips, including wedges, sweet potato fries, and banana chips
Chips, wedges, sweet potato fries, and banana chips are all great options to cook in an air fryer. Here's how you can make them:
Chips and Wedges
Air fryers can be used to make super-crispy, tender, and golden chips and wedges without deep-frying. They are healthier as they require less oil and are cooked in less time.
Sweet Potato Fries
Air fryer sweet potato fries are a healthier alternative to deep-fried sweet potatoes, with less fat and calories. They are cooked in less than 15 minutes and are crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. To make them, peel and slice the sweet potatoes into 1/4" or 0.5 cm sticks. Put them in a bowl, drizzle oil, and toss to coat. Sprinkle salt, pepper, and seasonings like smoked paprika, Cajun, or BBQ spices, and mix well. Air fry at 380°F for 10 minutes, and add 1-minute increments as needed. You can also cook frozen sweet potato fries in the air fryer by increasing the cooking time by 5 minutes.
Banana Chips
While there is no specific recipe for banana chips in an air fryer, you can try slicing bananas thinly and air frying them at a low temperature to dehydrate them and make chips.
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Frequently asked questions
Air fryers are great for cooking up speedy weeknight dinners with minimal prep and cook time. Here are some easy meal ideas:
- Baked potatoes
- Salmon fillets
- Chicken breasts
- Sausages
- Chicken nuggets
- Halloumi
- Sweet potato fries
Here are some simple air fryer recipes to get you started:
- Chicken parmigiana
- Spicy chicken coated in garlicky breadcrumbs
- Baked sweet potato jackets
- Buffalo-style cauliflower wings
- Aubergine
- Squash
There are plenty of vegetarian options that can be cooked in an air fryer. Here are some meat-free meal ideas:
- Sweetcorn and spring onion fritters
- Crispy tofu coated in sesame seeds
- Mediterranean air-fried lamb with cauliflower couscous and feta
- Homemade wedges
- Aubergine
- Squash
While air fryers are great for quick and easy meals, they can also be used to create impressive dishes for a special occasion. Here are some recipes to try:
- Crispy salmon with fresh rainbow salsa
- Sticky pork and rice noodle wraps
- Air fryer beef lasagne
- Air fryer banana chips
- Mini white chocolate and raspberry eclairs
